A Biodiversity Stewardship Site Assessment Report (BSSAR) is a document that examines land with the aim of using it for conservation purposes. The BSSAR is part of the NSW Biodiversity Offset Scheme that is a market-based system established under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The scheme provides funds for landowners to manage their land for conservation, with the potential for capital gains.
A BSSAR is prepared for applicants who want to utilise some of their own land for Biodiversity Offsetting and/or to establish a conservation site for the generation of Biodiversity Credits. Credits can be sold or traded on the open market.
A BDAR is a report required under the BC Act and is prepared by a person accredited (under section 6.10 of the BC Act) to apply the biodiversity assessment method (BAM). A BDAR provides guidance on how a proponent can avoid and minimise potential biodiversity impacts and identifies the number and class of biodiversity credits that need to be offset for the proposed development.
Biodiversity certification offers a streamlined biodiversity assessment process for areas of land that are proposed for development.
The process identifies areas that can be developed after they are certified and measures to offset the impacts of development. Where land is certified, development may proceed without the usual requirement for site by site assessment. It is particularly suitable when strategic land use planning at a landscape scale is proposed or underway.
Because biodiversity certification addresses the potential impacts on biodiversity during the early planning of land use change, it encourages planning authorities and landholders to design their development footprint in a way that avoids and minimises impacts on land with biodiversity values. Ideally these areas are protected from the impacts of future development. This results in:
Better biodiversity outcomes than site-by-site assessment
Upfront certainty for developers and the community about the development potential and conservation outcomes for an area.
Flora and fauna assessment reports are sometimes requested as part of the Development Application, it addresses how a proposed development (including related features like asset protection zones, effluent disposal, stormwater management, and landscaping) will impact on ecological features. Flora and fauna assessment reports may also include a Tests of Significance or 5-part tests to determine if a development or activity is likely to have a significant impact on threatened species, ecological communities or their habitats.
Wildlife Management Plans help guide the conservation of biodiversity, rehabilitation of landscapes and the protection of natural and cultural heritage.
A Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) details how the restoration or rehabilitation will be carried out. They are used to offset clearing and maintain and improve vegetation to reduce environmental impacts.
A Bushfire Threat Assessment (BTA) report evaluates the risk and impact of bushfires in a specific area, considering extensive factors like vegetation, weather, topography, and proximity to communities. BTAs are undertaken for various developments from single dwellings, subdivisions, schools, houses, industrial development and multi-unit developments in order to meet NSW RFS document ‘Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019’
Alternative Solutions are used if your development cannot comply with the acceptable solutions, or your site is heavily constrained, by factors such as ecological features, remote access or physical constraints such as land size that do not allow for APZs.
Performance based assessments can provide a better outcome by:
Reducing the required APZs, and therefore reducing the amount of vegetation removal which may result in a BDAR no longer being required (i.e. the generation of ecosystem / candidate credits) or if so, reduce the amount of ecosystem / candidate credits required for the development.
Performance based assessment can assist in achieving the following outcomes:
A BAL certificate details the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) for your land or development. It certifies that the development is not in the Flame Zone or BAL 40 as per Australian Standard (AS) 3959-2018. This is requirement if you are carrying out Complying Development (CD) on bushfire prone land.
The BAL Certificate also includes bushfire mitigation measures such as provisions for access, water and utility services, siting and design in order to achieve compliance outlined in NSW RFS document ‘Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 (for DAs) and the requirements of the SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008.
These assessments are carried out by ‘BPAD Accredited Practitioners’ recognised under current NSW planning legislation.
A Bushfire Emergency Plan is a detailed strategy that provides instructions for individuals, families, or communities on how to respond to a bushfire. It includes information on evacuation, shelter, communication, and essential items to pack. The plan aims to ensure the safety of people and property by offering organized procedures during a bushfire threat. A Bush Fire Emergency Management and Evacuation Plan will identify appropriate procedures for occupants to follow in the event of a bush fire.
An ecologist will identify and mark significant ecological elements, including any plants which have been identified for retention, potential fauna habitat (hollow bearing trees / nests), and environmental no-go zones / work boundaries. An Ecologist will take measures to minimise negative effects on the environment and produce a clearing certification report which identifies the potential outcomes.
We offer clearing supervision from ecologists to ensure that the clearing process is conducted in a manner that minimises negative impacts on the ecosystem. The supervision involves monitoring and advising on the protection of fauna, and ecological features, as well as Fauna rescue which involves capturing and relocating animals to safer environments.
Firebird EcoSultants is a valued environmental and bushfire consultancy based in Newcastle.
